Whenever I play golf (rarely) I’m told that I’m only competing against myself. Odds are it is my foursomes’ way of making me feel better about shooting my weight instead of some much more reasonable number. No issue there, we’re all just trying to improve our respective game—but some perspective is helpful, even if only to set goals and understand best practices.

The same can be said about executive compensation and benefits—it is not a competition, but it is helpful to know how your peers compare. The key difference is that structure also counts when it comes to compensation and benefits. For example, do credit unions in your peer group just provide 457 plans, or do they also have split-dollar plans?

Articles about mobile banking are popping up everywhere – from the Wall Street Journal to American Banker, in local papers, and on technology and finance blogs. Think more broadly – don’t ask yourself whether or not you have mobile banking. Consider where you’d like your mobile strategy to take you.

What are your members asking for?

There are, perhaps, many things you are hoping to offer your members: mobile banking that allows them to check their balance or transfer funds; remote deposit capture; ATM or branch locations or mapping; straightforward “contact us” options or maybe a more robust self service capability. People appreciate these tools, and are increasingly likely to expect such offerings from their bank or credit union and often consider these when selecting their financial institution.